Bath lift control valve



1968 w. A. DANIELS ETAL 3,

BATH L'IFT CONTROL VALVE Filed Sept. 29, 1965 5e: 47 ,m I? 48 26 L 5 59 45 46 2 5 55 5a 40 43 INVENTORS WILLIAM A. DANIELS WILLIAM A. DANIELS, JR.

ATTORNEYS ec. 31, 1968 w. A. DANIELS ETAL 3,419,044

BATH LIFT CONTROL VALVE Filed Sept. 29, 1965 Sheet 3 of 2 INVENTORS WILLIAM A. DANIELS WILLIAM A. DANIELS, JR.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,419,044 BATH LIFT CONTROL VALVE William A. Daniels, 7031 Seven Hills Drive, and William A. Daniels, Jr., 942 Simich Drive, both of Seven Hills, Ohio 44131 Filed Sept. 29, 1965, Ser. No. 491,080 6 Claims. (Cl. 137625.69)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A flow control valve including a housing having a stepped bore intersected axially therealong by a plurality of passages, and a valve spool axially slidable in said bore, said valve spool having a first portion of a diameter slightly less than the smaller diameter portion of the bore, and a second portion of a diameter approximately equal to the larger diameter bore portion. The smaller diameter bore portion has a plurality of axially spaced seals disposed therearound for selectively controlling the flow between the passages at various axial adjusted positions of the valve spool. A mounting clamp on the valve permits attachment to a plurality of different water spout configurations.

The present invention relates generally, as indicated, to a bath lift control valve and, more particularly, to a control valve which is especially adapted to be clamped to a water spout or the like for controlling the flow of fluid to a bath tub lift such as is disclosed in the patent to William A. Daniels, Patent No. 3,078,473, granted Feb. 26, 1963.

The bath tub lift described in the aforementioned Daniels patent may be installed on almost any type of bath tub and operated by any convenient source of normal household water pressure, such as is supplied by the tub spout, for example. However, heretofore it has been found to be somewhat of a nuisance to connect the lift to the tub spout for operating the same, since once the lift was connected through a suitable supply line, the spout could no longer be used to fill the tub Without first disconnecting the supply line. Moreover, it was necessary to mount the valve for controlling the flow of water through the supply line to and from the bath tub lift in some convenient place adjacent the tub, such as on the bathroom wall if the tub was located in an alcove or corner, or directly on the tub itself if it was of the free standing type.

It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide a novel bath lift control valve of simple construction which can be quickly and easily installed on a tub spout or the like for controlling the flow of operating fluid to the lift and which will still permit the spout to be used for other purposes such as filling the tub without first having to disconnect the valve.

Another object is to provide such a control valve with a novel clamping means for clamping the valve directly to almost any shape of water spout.

Still another object is to provide a control valve of the type indicated with a relatively simple valve spool which is adapted readily to be moved to any one of four operating positions; a first position whereat fluid is permitted to pass directly through the valve from the spout on which the valve is mounted as when it is desired to fill the tub; a second position whereat fluid is directed through the valve to a flow line leading to the bath tub lift for raising a seat; a third position whereat the flow of fluid through the valve is blocked and fluid communication is established between the flow line and a drain passage in the valve for permitting the escape of fluid from the lift and thereby permitting the lift seat to descend; and finally, a fourth position whereat all of the fluid passages in the valve are blocked and the lift seat is held stationary.

A further object is to provide such a control valve with novel means for effecting movement of the valve spool to such various operating positions.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail a certain illustrative embodiment of the invention, this being indicative, however, of but one of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred form of bath lift control valve in accordance with the present invention mounted on a conventional type bath tub water spout;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the control valve mounted on a differently shaped spout;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the valve, partially broken away to show the details of the valve spool and fluid passageways in the valve housing;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken on the plane of the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of such control valve; and

FIG. 6 is a front elevation of such control valve.

Turning now to the details illustrated in the drawing, the preferred form of bath lift control valve of the present invention is generally indicated at 1 and comprises a valve block 2 having a bore 3 therein for receipt of a valve spool 4 which is adapted to be moved to various operating positions upon movement of a control handle 5 as will be more fully discussed hereafter. As evident from FIGS. 3 and 4, the bore 3 in which the valve spool 4 is slidably received extends into the valve block 2 from the rear wall 7 until it terminates adjacent the front wall 8, and is intersected axially along its length beginning at its inner end 9 by an outlet 10, inlet 11, a port 12, and a restricted passageway 13, all of which are axially spaced from each other. The bore 3 has a uniform diameter D beginning from its outer end 14 to just beyond the inlet 11 and has a reduced diameter d for the remainder of its length.

A substantial portion 15 of the valve spool 4 is of a diameter slightly less than the reduced diameter portion d of the bore 3, and the inner end 18 is provided with a groove 19 in which there is disposed an O-ring 20 for establishing a fluid seal with such reduced diameter portion when the spool 4 is moved sufficiently inward. Because of the small diameter of the spool portion 15, there is a definite clearance space 21 between it and the wall of the larger diameter portion D of the bore 3. In addition to the O-ring 20, there are two other O-rings 25 and 26 surrounding the spool portion 15 which make sealing contact with the larger diameter bore portion D, the O-ring 25 being confined between a pair of axially spaced ribs 27, and the O-ring 26 being disposed between a similar rib 28 and the adjacent edge 29 of the outer end 30 of the valve spool 4 which is of a diameter approximately equal to the larger diameter portion D of the bore 3.

The valve spool 4 is adapted to be moved to any one of four operating positions within the bore 3, the first or tub position of which is illustrated in FIG. 4. In such position, the inner end 18- of the spool 4 is spaced somewhat from the reduced diameter portion d of the bore 3, whereby fluid is permitted to pass from the inlet 11 through the reduced diameter portion d to the outlet 10. Moreover, fluid may pass through the clearance space 21 between the spool portion and the larger diameter bore portion D to the port 12 and restricted passageway 13, but not beyond that due to the seal established by the middle O-ring 25. Thus, when the inlet 11 of the control valve 1 is connected to a suitable water supply source and the spool 4 is in the first or tub position, fluid is permitted to flow through the valve 1 and out the outlet 10 into the tub, thereby eliminating the necessity of having to disconnect the control valve when it is desired to fill the tub.

The second or up position of the control valve 1 is established by moving the valve spool 4 axially inwardly from the FIG. 4 position to a position whereat the inner O-ring just engages the reduced diameter bore portion d and the middle O-ring is located between the port 12 and restricted passageway 13. Here fluid communication is established between the inlet 11 and port 12 via the clearance space 21, but not between the inlet 11 and outlet 10, port 12 and outlet 10, or port 12 and restricted passageway 13. Accordingly, fluid entering the inlet 11 may be directed through the port 12 to a one-way cylinder (see FIG. 2) which forms a part of the lift mechanism of a bath tub lift or the like such as shown in the Daniels Patent 3,078,473. Preferably, the cylinder 35 is connected to the port 12 of the control valve 1 by a suitable fitting 36 screwed into the port 12 and a flexible tube 37. This fluid under pressure entering the cylinder 35 acts on the piston 38 and causes the same to rise, thereby lifting a weight W which represents a person positioned on the lift seat of the aforementioned Daniels patent.

The third or down position for the valve 2 is established by moving the spool 4 still further into the bore 3 until the port 12 and restricted pasageway 13 are located between the middle and outer O-rings 25 and 26, respectively, whereby the weight W acting on the piston 38 will cause the fluid within the cylinder 35 to escape through the restricted passageway 13 into the tub via the port 12 and clearance space 21 between the O-rings 25 and 26. The rate at which the fluid escapes from the cylinder 35 and thus the rate at which the piston 38 moves downwardly within the cylinder 35 depends of course on the size of the restricted passageway 13 and the amount of weight W carried by the piston 38.

The fourth and final position of the valve 1 is the stop position, which is achieved by moving the valve spool 4 further into the bore 3 from the third operative position to a position whereat the middle O-ring 25 is disposed between the inlet 11 and port 12 to block communication therebetween, the outer O-ring 26 is disposed between the port 12 and restricted passageway 13 to block communication therebetween, and the O-ring 20 still blocks the outlet 10. When in this position, the piston 38 and weight W carried thereby are supported by the column of water in the cylinder 35 in any desired position.

Axial movement of the valve spool 4 to the various operative positions discussed above is effected through pivotal movement of the control handle 5. As perhaps best seen in FIGS. 35, the control handle 5 is desirably in the shape of a bell crank with the angularly disposed arms 40 and 41 pivotally mounted to the bottom 42 of the valve block 2 as by means of a screw 43. The free end of the arm 41 has an aperture 44 therein for receipt of one bent end 45 of a wire link 46 which is connected to the valve spool 4 by the other bent end 47 extending through an elongated slot 48 in the block bottom 42 and threadably received in a tapped hole 49 in the spool 4.

For holding the control handle 5 in the various operative positions, there is provided a handle retainer which is attached to the bottom 42 of the valve block 2 adjacent the front wall 8 by suitable fasteners 57, it having four 4 positioning slots 58 for receipt of the control handle. Preferably, the control handle 5 is yieldably held in the various slots 58 by a compression spring 59 disposed around the pivoting screw 43 between the block bottom 42 and the control handle.

In the past, control valves such as indicated at 52 in the aforementioned Daniels patent for operating bath tub lifts were generally mounted on the wall adjacent the tub. This not only required the drilling of holes in the wall and the use of special mounting brackets, but also took considerable time. In order to eliminate these drawbacks a unique mounting clamp 60 has been devised for mounting the control valve 1 directly on the water spout such as indicated at 61 in FIG. 1 or 62 in FIG. 2. The mounting clamp 60 comprises a pair of U-shape members 63 and 64, the member 63 of which is pivotally mounted to the valve block 2 by a pair of screws 65, and the member 64 is pivotally mounted to the legs 68 of the member 63 as by rivets 69. The member 64 has a tapped hole 70 through the bight portion 71 therefor for threadably receiving a set screw 72 which, when tightened, will engage the top of a spout. In the bight portion 73 of the other member 63 there is a V-shape notch 74 for centering the bottom surface of the spout. Also, there is a bushing 75 inserted in the inlet 11 and a gasket 76 encircling such bushing 75 for engagement by the mouth 77 of the water spout 61 or 62 to establish a fluid seal therewith. Thus, when it is desired to mount the bath lift control valve 1 on a spout, it is only necessary to spread the members 63 and 64 of the mounting clamp 60 apart to receive the spout there-between, position the mouth 77 of the spout against the gasket 76, and tighten the set screw 72. Whether the spout has the configuration shown at 61 in FIG. 1 or the configuration shown at 62 in FIG. 2, or almost any other configuration, for that matter, so long as the clamping members 63 and 64 can be spread apart sufficiently to receive the spout therebetween with the mouth of the spout engaging the gasket 76, the bath lift control valve 1 can be clamped thereto without difliculty in a very short time by using only a pliers, wrench, or similar such tool.

Since the bath lift control valve 1 is mounted directly to the tub spout or the like, when the control handle 5 is in the first or tub position, water from the spout is of course permitted to pass directly through the outlet 10 into the tub. If desired, a sheet of corrugated metal 80 or the like may be disposed in the outlet 10 for aereating the water as it passes therethrough.

Moreover, because the control valve 1 is mounted directly on the tub spout, when the control handle 5 is moved to the third or down position, the water which escapes from the cylinder 35 through the control valve via the port 12, clearance space 21, and restricted passageway 13 will run directly into the tub, which is advantageous in that there is no drainage problem.

From the above discussion, it should now readily be apparent that the control valve of the present invention provides a very simple and effective means for controlling the flow of water to and from a fluid cylinder such as is used in bathtub lifts, and can readily 'be mounted on the tub spout or the like of substantially any configuration without the need for special tools.

Other modes of appling the principles of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of such be employed.

We, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as our invention:

1. A flow control valve comprising a valve housing, a bore in said valve housing intersected by an outlet passage, an inlet passage, a cylinder port, and a restricted passage, all axially spaced apart in that order, a spool valve means axially slidably received in said bore, and means operatively connected to said spool valve means for etfecting axial movement of said spool valve means to any one of four operating positions axially spaced apart from each other, said spool valve means in one of said operating positions establishing fluid communication between said inlet and outlet passages; said spool valve means in another of said operating positions blocking fluid communication between said inlet and outlet passages as well as between said cylinder port and restricted passage, and establishing fluid communication between said inlet passage and said cylinder port; said spool valve means in still another of said operating positions blocking fluid communication between said inlet passage and cylinder port and establishing fluid communication between said cylinder port and restricted passage; and said spool valve means in a further one of said operating positions blocking fluid communication between all of the passages and cylinder port.

2. The valve of claim 1 wherein said means for effecting movement of said spool valve means as aforesaid comprises a control handle pivotally mounted on said valve housing, and a wire link having one end connected to said control handle, and the other end extending through an elongated slot in said valve housing, and threadably received in a bore in said spool valve means.

3. The valve of claim 2 further comprising a handle retainer mounted on said valve housing, said handle retainer being provided with a plurality of positioning slots for receipt of said control handle, and a spring means disposed between said valve housing and control handle for yieldably holding said control handle in said positioning slots.

4. The valve of claim 1 wherein said bore has a uniform diameter from its outer end beyond said restricted passage, cylinder port, and inlet passage, and has a reduced diameter for the remainder of its length; and said spool valve means has a diameter slightly less than said reduced diameter portion of said bore for a substantial portion of its length, and a portion which is of a diameter approximately equal to such uniform diameter bore portion.

5. A bath lift control valve comprising a valve housing, a bore in said housing intersected axially therealong by an outlet passage, an inlet passage, a cylinder port, and a restricted passage, in that order, said bore having a uniform diameter from its outer end beyond said restricted passage, cylinder port, and inlet passage, and having a reduced diameter for the remainder of its length to said outlet passage, a valve spool axially slidably received in said bore, said valve spool having a portion with a diameter slightly less than the reduced diameter portion of said bore, and a portion which is of a diameter approximately equal to such uniform diameter bore portion, said reduced diameter spool portion having three axially spaced Oring seals disposed therearound, the axial distance between the inner and middle O-rin gs being slightly greater than the axial distance between the outer end of said reduced diameter bore portion and said cylinder port, and less than the distance between said outer end of said reduced diameter bore portion and said restricted passage, and the axial distance between the middle and outer O-rings being slightly greater than the axial distance between said cylinder port and said restricted passage.

6. A flow control valve comprising a valve housing, a bore in said valve housing intersected by an outlet passage, an inlet passage, a cylinder port, and a restricted passage, all axially spaced apart in that order, a valve spool means axially slidably received in said bore, and means for effecting axial movement of said spool valve means to any one of four operating positions, a first position whereat fluid communication is established between said inlet and outlet passages; a second position whereat fluid communication is blocked between said inlet and outlet passages as well as between said cylinder port and restricted passage, and established between said inlet passage and said cylinder port; a third position whereat fluid communication between said inlet passage and cylinder port is blocked and fluid communication between said cylinder port and restricted passage is established; and a fourth position whereat fluid communication between all of the passages and cylinder port is blocked, said bore having a uniform diameter from its outer end beyond said restricted passage, cylinder port, and inlet passage, and a reduced diameter for the remainder of its length; and said valve spool having a diameter slightly less than said reduced diameter portion of said bore for a substantial portion of its length, and a portion which is of a diameter approximately equal to such uniform diameter bore portion, said valve spool having three axially spaced O-ring seals disposed around said reduced diameter portion, the axial distance between the inner and middle O-rings being slightly greater than the axial distance between the outer end of said reduced diameter bore portion and said cylinder port, but less than the distance between said outer end of said reduced diameter bore portion and said restricted passage, and the axial distance between the middle and outer O-rings being slightly greater than the axial distance between said cylinder port and said restricted passage.

References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,537,797 5/1925 Bunbury 2858 2,266,902 12/1941 Perkins 285 XR 2,650,838 9/1953 Hirschland 2858 2,921,602 1/1960 Brinkel 137625.66 3,064,464 11/1962 Black et al, 137625.69 X 3,085,833 4/1963 Schultz 137-625.69 X

HENRY T. KLINKSIEK, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

